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Performance Architect Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The performance architect will guide the performance team to work closely with the architect and the design team to research and develop the highest performance core architecture / micro-architecture.

CPU Performance Architect

Austin, TX · On-site

$165K/yr

Join Intel as a CPU Performance Architect in Austin, TX and play a pivotal role in advancing cutting-edge semiconductor technology. You will be at the forefront of designing and developing CPU logic ...

Core Performance Architect

Berkeley, CA · On-site

$254K - $310K/yr

The performance architect will guide the performance team to work closely with the architect and the design team to research and develop the highest performance core architecture / micro-architecture.

Join our CPU Performance Architecture team in Santa Clara, CA, and be part of a company that is pushing boundaries and making an outstanding impact globally. This is your opportunity to help build ...

We are now looking for a Senior Performance Architect for Nemotron! At NVIDIA, we are redefining the future of AI systems through deep model-system-hardware co-design. We are looking for a forward ...

Senior Performance Architect

Burlingame, CA · On-site

$188K/yr

As a Senior Performance Architect, you will be the critical link between software and hardware, responsible for understanding how code executes on Quadric's architecture and identifying opportunities ...

Join our CPU Performance Architecture team in Santa Clara, CA, and be part of a company that is pushing boundaries and making an outstanding impact globally. This is your opportunity to help build ...

CPU Performance Architect

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$196K/yr

Join our CPU Performance Architecture team in Santa Clara, CA, and be part of a company that is pushing boundaries and making an outstanding impact globally. This is your opportunity to help build ...

CPU Performance Architect

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$196K/yr

Join our CPU Performance Architecture team in Santa Clara, CA, and be part of a company that is pushing boundaries and making an outstanding impact globally. This is your opportunity to help build ...

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Performance Architect information

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$156.5K

$168K

How much do performance architect jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for performance architect in the United States is $167,842.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $167,000.00 and $167,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Performance Architect, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Performance Architect, you need deep expertise in systems architecture, performance engineering, and capacity planning, typically backed by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with performance analysis tools like JMeter, LoadRunner, APM suites (e.g., Dynatrace, New Relic), and cloud platforms is crucial. Analytical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication set outstanding professionals apart in this role. These skills ensure optimized system performance, scalability, and reliability, directly impacting user experience and organizational success.

What Does a Performance Architect Do?

As a performance architect, you optimize performance within a company, software system, or application. Your duties include collecting data and information on the processes you wish to optimize, identifying areas for improvement and developing strategies or process improvements to bring about those positive changes. In most cases, you test the performance of the system or process before implementing changes. Performance architects who work on computer software and hardware systems sometimes handle coding responsibilities themselves. In this job, you also help troubleshoot when problems arise with a software system, manufacturing process, or business practice.

What does a performance architect do?

A performance architect designs and implements strategies to optimize the performance, scalability, and reliability of software systems. They analyze system bottlenecks, develop performance testing plans, and often work with tools like monitoring software to ensure applications meet performance standards. Strong knowledge of system architecture, coding, and performance testing is essential for this role.

How does a Performance Architect typically collaborate with development and operations teams to optimize system performance?

Performance Architects work closely with both development and operations teams to identify and resolve performance bottlenecks throughout the software lifecycle. They often participate in design reviews, conduct performance testing, and analyze system metrics to recommend optimizations. Regular communication and knowledge sharing are crucial, as Performance Architects translate technical findings into actionable tasks for developers and provide guidance to operations on monitoring and tuning the production environment. This collaborative approach ensures that performance goals are met efficiently and sustainably.

What is a Performance Architect?

A Performance Architect is a specialized IT professional responsible for designing and optimizing the performance of software systems, applications, or infrastructure. They analyze system bottlenecks, create performance testing strategies, and recommend improvements to ensure systems can handle expected workloads efficiently. Performance Architects often collaborate with developers, system administrators, and stakeholders to ensure that products meet performance requirements such as speed, scalability, and reliability.

What is the difference between Performance Architect vs Performance Engineer?

AspectPerformance ArchitectPerformance Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor's degree in computer science or related field; certifications like AWS Certified Solutions Architect may be beneficialUsually holds a bachelor's degree in computer science or engineering; certifications such as Certified Performance Testing Professional are common
Work EnvironmentDesigns high-level performance strategies, collaborates with architects and developers, often in planning phasesExecutes performance testing, analyzes bottlenecks, and implements improvements, often in testing or production environments
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in cloud, enterprise, and software development companies to plan scalable systemsFound in IT, software, and technology firms focusing on system optimization and testing

Performance Architects focus on designing overall system performance strategies and architecture, while Performance Engineers concentrate on testing, analyzing, and optimizing system performance through hands-on testing and troubleshooting.

What is the highest paid type of architect?

Performance Architects, who specialize in optimizing system performance and scalability, tend to have higher salaries compared to other architecture roles due to their specialized skills in areas like cloud computing, software optimization, and infrastructure design. Senior-level Performance Architects with certifications and extensive experience can earn six-figure salaries, especially in large tech companies or financial institutions.
What cities are hiring for Performance Architect jobs? Cities with the most Performance Architect job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Performance Architect jobs? The most popular types of Performance Architect jobs are:
Who are the top companies hiring for Performance Architect jobs? The top employers for Performance Architect jobs are:
What states have the most Performance Architect jobs? States with the most job openings for Performance Architect jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Performance Architect jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Performance Architect jobs are:
Infographic showing various Performance Architect job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, and 99% Full Time. Highlights an 80% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $167,842 per year, or $80.7 per hour.
SoC Performance Architect

SoC Performance Architect

Samsung Semiconductor, Inc.

San Jose, CA • On-site

$208K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 22 days ago


Samsung Electronics rating

7.0

Company rating: 7.0 out of 10

Based on 48 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

105th of 139 rated electronics manufacturers


Job description

Position Summary

Samsung, a world leader in advanced semiconductor technology, is founded on a simple philosophy - the endless pursuit of excellence will create a better world for all. At Samsung Austin Research and Development Center (SARC) and Advanced Computing Lab (ACL), we are building a center of excellence for Intellectual Property (IP) that is applied to high-performance computing devices consumed by millions of people around the world. Come build with us!

Role and Responsibilities

As a SoC Performance Architect, you will primarily be responsible for driving the modeling and analysis of new SoC architectures and features for next generation mobile products. This is a role tasked with building models of SoC architectures to evaluate new feature and use cases. Solid architecture foundation, leadership, and SoC modeling experience is desired for success.

  • Build and develop complex SoC performance models including CPU, GPU, ISP, NPU - particularly around smartphone and mobile platforms
  • Perform high-level performance modeling and analysis of hardware features, applications, benchmarks, and complex uses cases.
  • Analyze and understand the impact of system-level architectural trade-offs (including CPU, GPU, NPU, ISP, memory subsystems, and system software).
  • Leverage a data driven approach to drive consensus around complex architectural proposals
  • Work with teams throughout the company to identify, analyze and optimize critical complex use cases including gaming and camera applications

Skills and Qualifications

  • 7+ years of experience with a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science/Engineering, or 5+ years of experience with a Master's Degree, or 3+ years of experience with a Ph.D
  • Proficient in architectural modeling and performance analysis with analytical models or cycle-accurate simulators
  • Excellent software development skills with ability to code in C/C++, python and similar programming languages
  • Experience with CPU, GPU, accelerators or memory systems microarchitecture
  • Ability to integrate internal/external IP models on a full system-level framework
  • Understanding of Arm architecture and memory subsystem design including caches, interconnects and memory controllers
  • Build SoC architecture models to analyze end-to-end performance on workloads of interest; Experience with gem5 desired
  • Knowledge of high performance, high efficiency design
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills

Our Team

The System IP & SoC Architecture team at SARC/ACL designs proprietary coherent interconnects and memory controllers that power Exynos SoCs for Samsung's premium consumer devices. We play a critical role in shaping the technology roadmap, delivering scalable, performance- and power-optimized IP solutions that support advanced system modeling and real-world applications such as gaming and computational photography. With scalability and efficiency at the core of our designs, our IP integrates seamlessly into complex semiconductor products, enabling cutting-edge memory subsystem capabilities across diverse market segments.

Joining our team means collaborating alongside talented engineers from diverse technical backgrounds across a global organization. You'll have the opportunity to build next-generation technologies, broaden your expertise, and solve impactful challenges in a supportive environment built on collaboration, continuous learning, and growth.

Total Rewards

At Samsung - SARC/ACL, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $ and $208,400. Your actual base pay will depend on variables that may include your education skills, qualifications, experience, and work location.

Samsung employees have access to benefits including: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k), onsite lunch, employee purchase program, tuition assistance (after 6 months), paid time off, student loan program, wellness incentives, and many more. In addition, regular full-time employees (salaried or hourly) are eligible for MBO bonus compensation, based on company, division, and individual performance.

Additionally, this role might be eligible to participate in long term incentive plan and relocation.

This is an exempt position, which is not eligible for overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

U.S. Export Control

This position requires the ability to access information subject to U.S. export control restrictions. Applicants must have the ability to access export-controlled information or be eligible to receive a government authorization to access export-controlled information.

Trade Secrets

By submitting an application, you [applicant] agree[s] not to disclose to Samsung, or induce Samsung to use, any confidential or proprietary information (including trade secrets) belonging to any current or previous employer or other person or entity.

#ACL

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* Samsung Electronics America, Inc. and its subsidiaries are committed to employing a diverse workforce, and provide Equal Employment Opportunity for all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, status as a qualified individual with a disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.


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